Celebration! Abigail and Grayson's Wedding

Abigail and Grayson

Mayfair Farm Barn

This week I will not be discussing the finer points of Lightroom or showing yet one more way to display a beautiful tree. Instead, this week was all about my wonderful daughter Abigail, and Grayson, her, nearly as wonderful new husband.  There are times when life completely blocks any opportunities for the usual photography and last week was one of those great times. I apologize to those who come to this blog for tips on landscape photography, but this week is a celebration of life outside of the forest.

The Bloom Family Folk

Abigail and Grayson decided to have a small wedding, and this spring about 20 of their closest friends and family joined them for a ceremony at the edge of Fresh Pond in Cambridge Massachusetts.  With the wedding out of the way they were ready for a bigger celebration.  They chose a farm in the woods of New Hampshire.  Among the sheep and pigs, Mayfair Farm in Harrisville features a beautiful event barn which accommodated 120 friends and family for a locally raised dinner, the necessary speeches and then hours of exuberant dancing. 

Kerry, Cuyler and Don Bryant

Newcomer Family Folk

Everyone had a great time and, in addition to the mandatory father-daughter dance, I actually got out a few times to embarrass myself on the floor.  I promised Abby that I would play the part of the proud father and not let my camera get in the way of the professional photographer.  Of course, I couldn’t resist a few shots and Mark was wonderfully tolerant of my occasional second shooter role. 

Jeremy and Gina

Saturday night at the Mayfair Farm was the highlight, but the celebration extended through the entire weekend.  We had an informal welcoming taco bar buffet Friday night at Odelay  Restaurant in Keene and a great brunch on Sunday at our home in Spofford. 

Gina, Jeremy, Chris and Lisa

Of course, the brunch also gave me the chance to show off my new studio, which is slowly being filled with all the stuff which has been cluttering the house. The studio is becoming functional just in time for the long list of projects which have been accumulating. 

Susan and I were happy, but exhausted after the weekend, but we had no chance for rest.  We turned around and headed for NYC to see Hamilton and stay with Jeremy and Gina.  We will return just in time to set up for Art in the Park at Ashuelot River Park during the holiday weekend.  Whew!

Studio is beginning to fill

Longtime Friend Michele

Anyway, that is why my blog is late and why I can only throw up some happy party pictures.  This business of being “retired” is exhausting.  I promise to get back to real photography stuff next week.

Jeff Newcomer
www.partridgebrookreflections.com

Abigail is Getting Married

High School Grad

Abigail is getting married this weekend, and I hope that I can be excused from my usual celebration of cold and impersonal trees and mountains to indulge myself with a few images that reflect my beautiful daughter’s spirit, love, wit, brilliance and dedication to the service of others.  

There are no tears here.  Abby is marrying a wonderful man. Grayson is a good match for her strong personality, and after seven years it is about time!

Determination, Abby and Susan

Gap Mountain, Nelly, Ab and Dad

  The only crying comes from the fact that Abby has made it clear that I am NOT allowed to take any pictures of the ceremony.  I guess I understand.  She has a wedding photographer and she wants me to be free to be part of the ceremony, without a camera around my neck.  Abby has even taken my camera to be used for the video.  Ok, she is definitely the boss, but of course I will have my little Canon G11 neatly hidden in my pocket.

Ab and Bart

I have reviewed lots of old pictures, and have picked out about one hundred, ranging from her birth and first vocalizations (immediately after), all the way to her time with Grayson.  I will largely let the pictures do the talking.  In addition to the few images here, I have placed a larger collection in a Gallery on my website.  I hope Abby will not be too embarrassed, but I have seen an endless procession of  pictures of young children from my friends, and I feel that I can be allowed my chance to show some old 

pictures -  at least while we patiently wait for Grandchildren!

Jeremy and Abigail

My few words cannot remotely approach a resume of all of Abigail’s activities and accomplishments.  Simply speaking, I am endlessly amazed by my daughter’s intelligence and poise, and her ability to disarmingly connect with all sorts people, and I am so proud.

Early years

From birth, Abby had an often exhausting store of energy.  She loved to talk but also to quietly ease-drop on the adult conversation.  Throughout her local schooling she had a remarkably talented group of friends who spent much of their time in friendly, loving  competition.

Reading with Grampy

Away to School

Abby in Washington - Not her real Office

Abby went to Bates College in Maine and then completed a Masters in Public Policy at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy.  Since then, first in Washington DC and recently in Cambridge Massachusetts, she has worked on projects designed to help the underprivileged and disadvantaged.  Of course, we are happy that she was able to move her job closer to home in Cambridge.

Chesterfield Friends

The Wedding

Beautiful Abby at Fresh Pond

Of course the wedding was beautiful.  It was an intimate affair with only about twenty close family and friends.  We gathered in a park on Fresh Pond in Cambridge and, happily, rain held off.  Grayson's sister-in-law Kerry did an amazing job with the ceremony and surprised us all by hiring an acapella group to float in at the end of the service singing All You Need is Love. It was the perfect "Love Actually" moment.  After the ceremony, we all retired to a local beer pub to continue the informal celebration.  

It was a great weekend.  Abby wouldn't let me take many pictures and I had to sneak some with my pocket Canon G11, but the end result is that I have a married daughter and a wonderful son-in-law.  And I'm sure the "Professional" pictures will be great.  Yeah! 

Abigail Has Her Grayson

But She Will Always be Home With Us

  

Jeffrey Newcomer

www.partridgebrookreflections.com

Pictures of the Holidays

This week’s blog is being published on Christmas day, so I thought it would be a nice time to share some of my favorite holiday images.

What represents a “holiday image”:

The Lights

Certainly festive lighting is a popular subject.  My favorite has always been the scene around Central Square in Keene New Hampshire.  The gazebo, the majestic white church and the illuminated Christmas tree makes for classic images.  Over the years, the trees have varied in size and the snow has not always been cooperative, but it is always the first place that I look for my holiday lighting.

Of course, there are other locations for Christmas lighting and I am always on the lookout.  

Boston Common Lights

I have written several articles about shooting holiday lights:

• Photography of Holiday Lights
• Christmas Lights Photography
• Getting the most from Christmas Lights

Festive Decorations

Vermont Country Store

Holiday decorations are not always dependent on bright and flashing lights.  Wreaths and garlands add a more traditional feeling of celebration, harking back to a time when holiday lighting was a candle in the window, and everything else depended on color and style.

Hancock Inn

The Fells,  Newbury NH

Christmas Cactus

Interesting Weather

Home for Christmas 2017

Christmas in New England also means winter weather.  Everyone prays for a white Christmas, but it may also come with impassible icy roads, fallen trees and power failures.  Recently, a tree crashed into the wires pulling two poles to the ground knocking out power for 12 hours. It was interesting to see the crews working through the night to restore service.  

Great December Ice Storm Outage 2008

Christmas Walk, Spofford NH, 2017

This year we have already enjoyed several storms and are promised a white Christmas, but two years ago, Christmas morning meant a stroll around the village in short sleeves.

Christmas Day 2016

The Warmth of Home and Hearth

Regardless of the weather household decoration stay pretty much the same.  These can include the lights on the Christmas tree, but, like many people, we add our own traditional pieces, including home-made decorations on the tree.  We have an ornament pieced together from the “No Mall” pins that we wore years ago, and for real history, we have Abigail’s old retainer, that we plan to pass on for her trees for decades to come.  Of course, we have bright stockings to hang over the fireplace and everything from a Santa wine bottle holder and, for no obvious reason, a dancing chicken.

Harrisville, NH

Well, I think I have manufactured sufficient excuses to show some of my holiday pics.  Enjoy and have a peaceful and happy holiday season.

For more Holiday Images check out my

• Holidays in New England Gallery

Jeffrey Newcomer

partridgebrookreflections.com